California May Reset Political Compass

[kskiska]

Sunday, October 5, 2003; Page A01

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 -- California long has been on the cutting edge of America's politics, and Tuesday's historic gubernatorial recall election is no exception. Once again, the nation's most populous state is helping to define the politics of discontent.

In the final hours of an extraordinary campaign, the spotlight is on two men: Gov. Gray Davis (D), the career politician who is in grave danger of losing his job just 11 months after winning reelection; and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican film star who was pulling away from his rivals just before being hit by charges of sexual misconduct and of once having praised Adolf Hitler.

But the recall represents more than a battle between these two men and over which party controls the governor's office for the next three years. At stake is the future direction of politics here and perhaps nationally. Will Tuesday's election lead to a change in the political climate here, one that helps break the partisan standoff that has frustrated efforts to resolve the state's fiscal crisis, or will it lead to more partisan warfare, gridlock and political retribution -- and more voter disaffection?

(snip)

Instead, say political strategists, Tuesday's outcome could shape the tone and intensity of the presidential campaign, affect whether President Bush and the Republicans seriously contest California next year and offer clues as to the power of the discontent that has been stirring at the grass roots this year.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45141-2003Oct4.html

[Fridays Child]

1. Three days before the recall vote and the WP is just now figuring out...

...how important this is? :eyes:

Hey Post, it's not too late ask Palast what he knows.

[goforit]

2. The new political compass is a "Banana Republic"

Wake up California.......This is your ALAMO!!!!

[E_Zapata]

3. I think if Arn 'wins', it will hurt Bush.

I think it will hurt bush if Arn doesn't win.

I think the whole circus of horror is a problem for the pukes.

[0rganism]

6. Agreed, recall is lousy for the GOP unless McClintock pulls it off

McClintock, unlike Arnold, actually understands politics. He would know how to act like a governor. He is in line with the current neo-cons and their outrageous policies.

But the repukes went for Arnold as their wunderkind. If he loses to Cruz, he'll make their whole sleazy operation look sick and stupid.

If elected, Arnold is nowhere near conservative enough to energize the base come 2004, will become increasingly unpopular as he builds his own fuck-up record, will be vulnerable to litigation, and Californians who "joined Arnold" will soon start muttering "what the heck was I thinking?" Plus, he'll be fighting off his own recall, within two months.

All in all, an Arnold victory would be enough to splinter the California GOP for good. Makes me wonder if it isn't a subtle plot by the Kennedies involving liberal Oprah and Rob Lowe as operatives, to destroy republicans in Cali.

[Dagaz]

4. The big change here

is that the recall was all done on the internet and in talk radio. Even Phil Bronstein who owns the Chronicle is asking what this means for the newspapers and mainstream broadcast media.

Dean has tapped in to the same types of media so it's looking like the new politics is lead without the abc/nbc/cbs/cnn/nytimes/washpost media machine.

[roguevalley]

5. I think this is the dumbest thing the rethugs could do. It was just to

quash the enron thing. They have no one else in place
so it isn't like they can make Cally go repug. Quite
the opposite I believe.

[jamesinca]

7. Pete Wilson is one of Arnolds advisors

Pete Wilson did not turn CA republican when he was the governor, and his ideas are what brought about Enron. Wilson championed deregulation. One of Arnolds latest ads says that it is Davis's fault the cost of electricity is as high as it is. It is Enron and Pete Wilsons fault. People are not putting this together out here in CA. Or at least 54% of them are not.